Good garage receiver

[ddodge68]

I need some help. I am just looking for a good garage receiver. It will only run 2-4 speakers, but I want good sound out of it. I am hoping to figure out a way to plug my ipod into it, I may hook up a CD player, if I can't get the ipod to work. The only other thing I care about is FM radio. I don't care anything about home theater, or surround sound, for this one. Just good sound...and a decent price. Since I know little about this kind of thing, I was hoping that someone here might be able to offer some suggestions.

Oh...it would be nice if it had a remote control...

Thanks for the help,
Dan

 

[ParadigmDawg]

You can hook up an ipod to any AVR via RCAs.

What's your budget?

I would look on Ebay for an old used one as the heat and humidity changes will eat it up at some point so I would go cheap.

 

[sholling]

Generally I like to use used gear for that sort of job but maybe an Onkyo TX-8555 stereo receiver. Accessories for less has them refurbished for $200. I have no idea if they have an iPod dock available for that one or not.

 

[highfigh]

I need some help. I am just looking for a good garage receiver. It will only run 2-4 speakers, but I want good sound out of it. I am hoping to figure out a way to plug my ipod into it, I may hook up a CD player, if I can't get the ipod to work. The only other thing I care about is FM radio. I don't care anything about home theater, or surround sound, for this one. Just good sound...and a decent price. Since I know little about this kind of thing, I was hoping that someone here might be able to offer some suggestions.

Oh...it would be nice if it had a remote control...

Thanks for the help,
Dan

Where are you located? Without knowing that, it's absolutely impossible to recommend a receiver, based on its tuner. I have a customer who lives at about a 75° angle down from the top of the tower. Most of the signal shoots over his house and garage, where I put a Sherwood receiver. The reception is OK with a standard dipole antenna because most receivers are better with weak signal than with too much signal. I, OTOH, am about 1/2 mile from the antenna farm where the local stations broadcast from and my tuner is getting bombarded by the signal. Some stations come in better on my Denon AVR-990 with a 75-300 Ohm balun that has a single twist tie secured at one screw than with a monopole wire. If I use rabbit ears, I can't get much clear signal because it's just too much.

If you're not too close to the towers and aren't trying to pick up an obscure college station, you should be OK with almost any tuner.

 

[Soccerkid830]

I'm sure there are better ways to do it, but I got a new stereo in my truck and gave the old stereo/faceplate setup to my dad for his garage. It's fairly cheap and you can get the iPod connector and/or remote controls for most aftermarket car stereos now.

Like I said, I'm sure there are much better ways of going about this, but I figured I'd throw it out there in case you have a car stereo lying about..

 

[ddodge68]

My budget...something fairly cheap. I'm kinda leaning towards something used. I found a ONKYO TX-810, for a decent price. Anyone know anything about these? There are also a lot of Sony units available on ebay, but I have no idea which ones are good, and which ones are bad.

As far as where I live, I live in rural Iowa. Radio reception is generally fairly poor here, but I do have an FM antenna on my roof, so that helps a great deal.

Oh...and if it helps, my garage is insulated, and I have a wood stove in there, for heat...when I'm out there, in the winter.

Thanks again for all of the help.

 

[Nomo]

My budget...something fairly cheap. I'm kinda leaning towards something used. I found a ONKYO TX-810, for a decent price. Anyone know anything about these? There are also a lot of Sony units available on ebay, but I have no idea which ones are good, and which ones are bad.

As far as where I live, I live in rural Iowa. Radio reception is generally fairly poor here, but I do have an FM antenna on my roof, so that helps a great deal.

Oh...and if it helps, my garage is insulated, and I have a wood stove in there, for heat...when I'm out there, in the winter.

Thanks again for all of the help.

None of the Sony's are good. (IMO of course). That Onkyo looks to be a solid choice. I wouldn't pay much over $50 for it though.
I'm running my old 2 channel Onkyo in the garage. Although I pull it out in the winter months. It's still going strong.

 

[just-some-guy]

Craigslist.

 

[Seth=L]

Craigslist.

Seconded

If the Onkyo TX-810 is cheap go for it.

 

[ddodge68]

Got the Onkyo for $51, including shipping, from ebay (item #110515799378 if you'd like to see my purchase). Thanks for the advice everyone!!

 

[highfigh]

None of the Sony's are good. (IMO of course). That Onkyo looks to be a solid choice. I wouldn't pay much over $50 for it though.
I'm running my old 2 channel Onkyo in the garage. Although I pull it out in the winter months. It's still going strong.

I have a Sony STR-5800 that hasn't left my garage in at least 8 years. It goes through all of the seasons, including those sudden warm, humid days when everything is cold enough to cause moisture to condense on everything. I haven't had to do anything to it, including clean the controls and switches.

Having said that, I wouldn't haul off a buy a pricey new receiver for a garage that's unheated, like mine. I have a 5 disc DVD player out there, too. That works well and it has been out there for about 2.5 years. If it's heated, it's not a problem for the equipment.

 

[Seth=L]

Got the Onkyo for $51, including shipping, from ebay (item #110515799378 if you'd like to see my purchase). Thanks for the advice everyone!!

Good grab, even has the remote, manual and box. That would be a fine buy for someone wanting to set up a cheap stereo in their home, let alone a garage.

 

[ddodge68]

Good grab, even has the remote, manual and box. That would be a fine buy for someone wanting to set up a cheap stereo in their home, let alone a garage.

Thanks bro. It looks to be in good shape, and the seller has 100% feedback. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Again, thanks for the advice from everyone here.